Public priorities for local action to reduce the health impacts of climate change: Evidence from a UK survey

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate public concerns about the impacts of climate change on people's health in the UK and their priorities for action by local government. In the UK, local government are responsible for the environmental protection and health of their local population. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An online survey of UK adults aged ≥18 years was conducted in 2021 (n = 4050). Representative quotas were set for gender, age group, ethnic group, educational attainment and location (UK country/England region). Survey participants were asked about their concerns about the health impacts of climate change and, excluding those reporting no concerns, their top priorities for their local government to address. Results: The dominant health concerns related to air pollution and severe floods. These exposures were also identified as the two most important priorities for local government to address. Separate logistic regression models investigated local-level factors that predicted the selection of each priority, taking account of socio-demographic factors. For both outcomes, awareness of the relevant exposure in the local area in the past 12 months doubled the odds of selecting it as a priority (air pollution: OR 2.01, 95%CI 1.71, 2.36; floods: OR 2.16, 95%CI 1.88, 2.48). Conclusions: The study demonstrates the potential of surveys to capture public priorities for local action on the health impacts of climate change, and to yield clear policy advice on the issues of greatest public concern.

Keywords

• 2015 Paris agreement
• Public perspectives
• Local government
• Air pollution
• Floods